Valor Collegiate Academy Foundational Framework
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The foundational framework for Valor Collegiate Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, identifies the beliefs, values, disciplines, and commitments for members of the Valor community.
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Valor Collegiate Academy Foundational Framework
- 1. Foundational Framework Valor Collegiate Academy
- 2. Foundational Framework Overview The Valor Foundational Framework provides a balanced set of beliefs, values, disciplines, and commitments to govern the mindsets and behaviors of educators and scholars in their roles as teachers, learners, leaders, and members of our community. The framework supports our belief that having a strong culture is critical to developing a high-trust and high- performing school and that building a strong culture happens intentionally. The framework also serves as a declaration of who we are and what we stand for as a school community.
- 3. Foundational Framework Foundational Beliefs and Values We start by explicitly defining the underlying beliefs and embedded values that support the framework, the school design, and our emerging community. We believe it is important to make these beliefs as explicit as possible so that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of who we are and what we stand for.
- 4. Foundational Framework The Valor Compass Next, we introduce the Valor Compass, which serves as a guide and metaphor for our approach to learning and growth in our community. The Foundational Disciplines, which are contained within the Compass, represent the ideals of individual and communal excellence within our community and serve as guideposts for all we do as a school. Everyone in the community will measure their own learning and growth in each of the Foundational Disciplines. “Working the Compass” and living “The Valor Way” are shorthand ways to describe the difficult day-to-day work of trying to attain the ideals of the Foundational Disciplines.
- 5. Foundational Framework The Valor Commitments Finally, we introduce the Valor Commitments, which serve as the primary agreements we make with each other as members of the Valor community. These agreements serve as our moral code and are held up as a means for every community member to support each other in being the best that they can be.
- 6. Foundational Framework At Valor our central mission is to empower a diverse community of scholars with the sense of purpose, academic skills, and character strengths they will need to succeed in college and to lead inspired, balanced lives.
- 7. Foundational Beliefs and Values
- 8. Foundational Beliefs We believe our diversity makes us strong.
- 9. Foundational Beliefs We believe that we enroll families, not just scholars.
- 10. Foundational Beliefs We believe that we all deserve the opportunity to fulfill our potential and captain our destinies.
- 11. Foundational Beliefs We believe that our humanity is found through our relationships with others.
- 12. Foundational Beliefs We believe greatness comes from having a growth mindset and that effort, more than talent, matters in the end.
- 13. Foundational Beliefs We believe social justice is everyone’s responsibility.
- 14. Foundational Beliefs We believe excellence is a habit developed through lots and lots and lots of perfect practice.
- 15. Foundational Beliefs We believe great schools are powered by joy.
- 16. Foundational Beliefs We believe everything can be done with kindness.
- 17. Foundational Beliefs We believe it takes valor to be the best you can be.
- 19. Foundational Dimensions Body Heart Mind Spirit Spirit | Body | Mind | Heart The Foundational Framework is built on the most fundamental and irreducible dimensions of human experience. These dimensions can be defined as the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual dimensions. We believe that true value and effectiveness depends on balanced and integrated mastery in each of these dimensions.
- 20. Foundational Contexts Individual Collective Individual | Collective The Foundational Framework builds upon the recognition that our growth occurs in two fundamental contexts: we are both individuals and part of multiple collectives.
- 21. Balance and the True North True North At Valor we recognize the foundational importance of balance. We must balance our intentions with our actions, our hearts with our minds, and our individual needs with those of the community as a whole. Remaining in balance requires that we establish a sense of center where we integrate our growth and learning in a conscious way. At Valor, we call this center True North.
- 22. Foundational Disciplines Aligned Action Big Heart Sharp Mind Noble Purpose Foundational Disciplines Mastery in each foundational dimension is achieved via the Foundational Disciplines. The discipline in each dimension is balanced across two contexts – personal mastery and communal mastery. All of the activities of the school are aimed at cultivating the following in every member:
- 23. Foundational Character Strengths Determination Integrity Kindness Courage Diversity Curiosity Identity Joy Foundational Character Strengths Development along each Foundational Discipline results in, and requires, the development of various character strengths. While we encourage each community member to discover and develop his or her own unique character strengths, we have also selected a core set of character strengths that reflect our foundational values and beliefs and that we believe will help all members develop habits of heart and mind critical for success and well being.
- 24. Foundational Competencies Enhance Emotional Literacy Navigate Emotions Increase Empathy Apply Consequential Thinking Recognize Patterns Exercise Optimism Pursue Noble Goals Engage Intrinsic Motivation Foundational Competencies Valor has partnered with 6 Seconds, a leading Emotional Intelligence organization that has developed, through practice and research, a set of 8 core social and emotional competencies/pursuits that we will work to develop in every Valor community member. These competencies are aligned with our Valor Compass in the following way:
- 25. Success Factors Effectiveness Relationships Health Quality of Life Success Factors The Foundational Competencies are linked directly to the following Life Success Factors which will be assessed as one measure of individual and community development in the Aligned Actions Discipline.
- 26. Community Commitments Valor Community Commitments Communal mastery of the disciplines within the Valor community includes upholding the Community Commitments. These are our moral code.
- 27. Working the Compass In every moment we have the ability to draw on our deepest values (Noble Purpose) and use our hearts and our minds (Sharp Mind and Big Heart) to live from an embodied and aligned place in the world (Aligned Actions). This is Working the Compass. Sharp Mind Big Heart Noble Purpose Aligned Action
- 28. The Valor Logo Disciplines True North Individual Mastery Communal Mastery The Valor Way is embedded in the logo itself: True North represents our balanced center where we can access our Noble Purpose, engage our Big Heart and Sharp Mind, and live a life of Aligned Action in the service of our Community.
- 29. Foundational Disciplines Noble Purpose Noble Purpose [Having Noble Purpose means being connected to my deepest values, living from my best self- story, and bringing joy into the world. Having Noble Purpose also means being connected to my multiple communities’ values, shared histories, stories, and identities, and being grounded in my communal identity] Be Rooted. Be Alive. Be You.
- 30. Foundational Disciplines Aligned Action Aligned Action [Having Aligned Action means working steadfastly to ensure my actions match my intentions. Having Aligned Action also means being an engaged and supportive community member and being willing to contribute, through my actions, to the greater good] Be Accountable. Be On Value. Be Determined.
- 31. Foundational Disciplines Sharp Mind Sharp Mind [Having a Sharp Mind means pursuing knowledge and skills through critical thinking, creative problem solving, curiosity, and diversity of perspective. Having a Sharp Mind also means being able to listen and communicate effectively in my relationships] Be Discerning. Be Curious. Be Flexible.
- 32. Foundational Disciplines Big Heart Big Heart [Having a Big Heart means understanding and drawing energy from my emotions. It means having the courage to stand in uncertainty, to connect with and value others, and to be kind to myself and others. Having a Big Heart also means having compassion for the needs of the world and having the courage to be “a part of the solution”] Be Safe. Be Kind. Be Brave.
- 33. Foundational Disciplines True North [Finding True North means being balanced, present, and alert. True North is my most balanced center where I am able to be present and make clear decisions about my next steps] Be Balanced. Be Present. Be Alert.
- 35. Community Commitments Community Commitments Be Safe I commit to keeping myself and others safe
- 36. Community Commitments Community Commitments Be Inclusive I commit to leaving no community member behind I commit to seeking diversity of perspective
- 37. Community Commitments Community Commitments Be Kind I commit to speaking to the person, not about the person I commit to speaking from my heart, but using my head
- 38. Community Commitments Community Commitments Work Hard I commit to working the Compass
- 39. Community Commitments Community Commitments Be Accountable I commit to walking the talk
- 40. Community Commitments Community Commitments Be Brave I commit to showing up with Valor
Notes de l'éditeur
- At Valor our central mission is to empower a diverse community of scholars with the sense of purpose, academic skills, and character strengths they will need to succeed in college and to lead inspired, balanced lives. Our foundational framework is designed to help us live this mission and emerges from the following foundational beliefs and values:
- We proactively seek to create as diverse a community as possible because we believe in the power of diversity to make us stronger. We recognize that everyone is multi-storied and that no single story about a person or people can tell us about the whole of who they are. We also recognize that power differentials exist in the world and that they exert great influence over our individual and collective stories. We actively seek to correct for this, both in ourselves and in the culture at large, by celebrating alternative storylines that often go unheard. We seek to create a community where every member feels connected to and values their own and others’ unique histories, identities, and stories. “There is strength in the differences between us, and there is comfort where we overlap.” Ani Difranco “I've always felt that it is impossible to engage properly with a place or a person without engaging with all of the stories of that place and that person. The consequence of the single story is this: It robs people of dignity. It makes our recognition of our equal humanity difficult. It emphasizes how we are different rather than how we are similar.” Chimamanda Adichie “If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us walk together.” Lilla Watson
- We believe that we enroll families, not just scholars. We believe that children’s first, and most important, teachers are their family. We also believe that connection and belonging are two essential needs for a child and seek to be a part of creating that web of support, along with families, for every scholar we serve. We use the word “family” instead of “parent” intentionally to honor the wide range of important adults that play key roles in our scholar’s lives. We seek to partner deeply with families and to create a school where their voices are an important part of the shaping our community and practices. Inside our school, we seek to create a welcoming atmosphere that encourages family members to be an integral part of the learning and community-building process. Outside of the school, we seek to partner with families to “expand the walls of the school” and make lifelong learning a whole family endeavor. “Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.” Anthony Brandt “Home is the first school, and parents are the first teachers.” T. Berry Brazelton
- We believe every child deserves a full opportunity to succeed in school and in life and that it is our obligation to empower them with the tools they will need to create the lives they imagine for themselves. We believe that everyone, given the right tools and support, can learn at a high level. To this end, we see our most fundamental role as educators to be helping scholars uncover their sense of purpose, define and embrace their unique values and character strengths, and develop the strong work ethics and habits they will need to propel them to academic excellence and well being. Ultimately, we believe that our job is to empower our scholars to set the course for and set off as the captains of their unique destinies. “It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” William Ernest Henley “Difficult takes a day. Impossible takes a week.” Jay-Z
- “I am a person through other people. My humanity is tied to yours.” Zulu proverb “The story of one life cannot be told separately from the story of other lives. Who are we? The question is not simple. What we call the self is part of a larger matrix of relationship and society. Had we been born to a different family, in a different time, to a different world, we would not be the same. All the lives that surround us are in us.” Susan Griffin
- We believe that by collectively adopting the mindset that we are born to get better and are not born with fixed abilities, we will create a community of resilient, life-long learners who see effort and failure as a necessary part of their never-ending journeys towards success and happiness. We also believe this mindset will allow us the freedom to re-author our self-stories and self-identities in empowering ways. We believe that by freeing ourselves to take risks, we will unleash our ability to tap into our deepest motivations, our wildest creativity, and our most authentic intentions. “When the world says, ‘Give up,’ Hope whispers, ‘Try one more time.’” Unknown “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” Thomas Edison
- We believe that an important aspect of education is helping initiate young people into society. We believe it is a part of our responsibility, as a school, to create future leaders and citizens who have the power to advocate for themselves and to make a difference in their communities. We seek to create a school community that deeply values justice and that holds ourselves to the ideal of ending injustice in all of its forms. We believe educational inequality is a civil rights issue of our time and seek to have our school be an important part of a larger movement to bring high-quality, free education to everyone. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Martin Luther King, Jr. "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi
- We believe that those who achieve at the highest level do so because they’ve developed great habits of heart and mind. We seek to create a community where developing habits through repeated practice is the norm. We also believe that not just any type of practice, but perfect practice is what leads to excellence. To this end, our community is built around sets of routines and rituals that help to model, teach, and learn the habits of heart and mind that we believe lead to excellence. We hold ourselves to high expectations and believe that through hard work and support we can all achieve greatness together. “Time lost is time lost. It’s gone forever. Some people tell themselves that they will work twice as hard tomorrow to make up for what they did not do today. People should always do their best. If they work twice as hard tomorrow, then they should have also worked twice as hard today. That would have been their best.“ John Wooden “It is a mistake to think that the practice of my art has become easy to me. I assure you, dear friend, no one has given so much care to the study of composition as I. There is scarcely a famous master in music whose works I have not frequently and diligently studied.” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- We believe that connecting to our deepest values and finding purpose and meaning in all that we do leads to a deep and motivating experience of joy. In our school community, we actively seek to nurture a love of learning in every scholar by helping them connect their learning directly to their lives and their values. As adults, we model this by consciously connecting our work to our values and purpose and by bringing joy into our relationships and the world. We believe it is meaning, purpose, and joy that motivate us to persevere in our pursuit of excellence. We believe that a joyful school environment is something that can be consciously created and that balancing the work and play of progress is essential to true learning. “Great minds have purpose, others have wishes. Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them.” Washington Irving “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct.” Carl Jung “Everybody laughs the same in every language.“ Yakov Smirnoff
- We believe that a hallmark of a thriving community is its commitment to kindness. In contrast to many predominant views of kindness in our culture, we view kindness as strength and seek to build our capacity for it in all contexts. We do not separate high expectations, boundary setting, and structure from kindness. In fact, we believe the force behind a successfully structured relationship or school is the force of “immovable kindness”. We seek to model for our scholars that kindness is always possible and that when we fall short of this ideal, our very commitment to kindness will lead us to doing the necessary repairing and resolving work. We believe kindness emerges from vulnerability and work to create a community that values the courage it requires to be vulnerable, known, and seen. “Before you speak, ask yourself these three questions: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?” Sufi saying "Soft words soften the hearts that are harder than rock, harsh words harden hearts that are softer than silk." Al-Ghazali “We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness.” Charlie Chaplin
- We believe that the biggest and most important risks we take in life are the risks to grow. Without this courage to “step into the arena,” no learning or growth is possible. Our namesake, Valor, was chosen because it embodies this primary “courage to be.” The definition of Valor is “the strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter difficulty or danger with firmness; personal bravery”. We live in a complex, often difficult world and we are invited, over and over, to take the easy road, to shut down, to stop pursuing our dreams, to say “No, it’s not possible”. At Valor, we seek to create a community with the courage to stand together in the midst of all kinds of uncertainty and continually find the strength to say, together, “Yes!” “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly...” Theodore Roosevelt “Be ignited, or be gone.” Mary Oliver
- The Valor Compass is the visual representation and metaphor for the approach we take to growth and learning in the Valor community. It is a rich symbol that embeds numerous elements and principles meant to guide us in our development as individuals and community members. We have attempted to keep the compass as universally applicable as possible so that it leaves room for numerous paths of growth and development and allows space for every community member to create an Inner Compass that is aligned with their own beliefs, values, strengths, and learning styles. Where the compass does include guardrails, we try to make those clear and base them on generally accepted “universal” truths (i.e. the foundational dimensions and foundational character strengths have been cross-culturally validated). We believe it is critical that each community member is given the space to develop in a unique manner and that they are encouraged to define and follow their own path to mastering the Disciplines.
- At Valor we recognize the foundational importance of balance. We must balance our intentions with our actions, our hearts with our minds, and our individual needs with those of the community as a whole. Remaining in balance requires that we establish a sense of center where we integrate our growth and learning in a conscious way. At Valor, we call this center True North. We adopted the term True North from its use in navigation where it is recognized that “finding true north is essential for accurate navigation”. We believe this is a powerful metaphor for our lives and want to encourage everyone to find and know this center point and to use it to consciously “set the direction” of their lives.
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- Personal mastery essential questions: Who am I? What do I value most deeply? What are my hopes and dreams? What makes me feel most alive? What inspires me? How do I want to shape the story of my life? What is my purpose? What am I called to do or be? What grounds me and helps me feel rooted? Communal mastery essential questions: Who are we? What do we value most deeply? What are our collective hopes and dreams? What makes us feel most alive? What inspires us? How do I want to help shape the story of my community? What is our purpose? What are we called to do or be? What grounds us and helps us feel rooted? Related values and character strengths: Purpose, Joy, Transcendence, Hope, Gratitude, Joy, Humor, Humility, Appreciation of Beauty, Love, Temperance, Will, Self-Awareness, Contemplation Foundational Character Strengths to balance: Purpose and Joy. How do I stay doggedly connected to my purpose while allowing myself to be impulsively joyful?
- Personal mastery essential questions: Do my actions match my intentions? Am I achieving greatness? Am I meeting my commitments? Am I on track? Communal mastery essential questions: Are we meeting our goals? Are we doing something great? Are we holding ourselves accountable? Are we working together? Is this fair for everyone? Are we making the world more just? Related values and character strengths: Excellence, Justice, Grit, Integrity, Citizenship, Leadership Foundational Character Strengths to balance: Integrity and Determination. How do I achieve at the highest level while still being true to my deepest values?
- Personal mastery essential questions: What is my opinion? How can I approach this problem? What is the best way to express this idea? What is another way to think about this? What am I curious about? What else do I need to know? Whom should I ask? What is true and what is partial about this concept? Communal mastery essential questions: How can I listen so that others feel heard? How can I speak so that others can understand? How can I incorporate as many voices as possible? How can I use my voice to support the whole? Related values and character strengths: Wisdom, Curiosity, Judgment, Love of Learning, Ingenuity, Diversity of Perspective, Self-Control, Prudence, Decision-making Foundational Character Strengths to balance: Diversity and Curiosity. How do I honor the many perspectives available to me and stay humble about what I still want to learn?
- Personal mastery essential questions: Am I fully showing up? What is my heart telling me? How is my fear holding me back? Am I willing to take a risk to achieve trust? How are my emotions shaping my experience? Am I present? Communal mastery essential questions: Am I present and attuned? Am I connected? Am I validating others’ experience? Am I willing to follow (or lead)? Is it safe for everyone? How can I speak my truth while being kind? Are we living up to our communal values? Related values and character strengths: Kindness, Valor, Forgiveness, Love, Social Intelligence, Playfulness, Vulnerability Foundational Character Strengths to balance: Valor and Kindness. How do I have the courage to stand in uncertainty and maintain my generosity of heart?
- Personal mastery essential questions: Am I present? Am I integrating what I’m learning? Am I out of balance? Am I heading in the right direction? Communal mastery essential questions: Are we present? Are we integrating what we’re learning? Are we in balance? Are we heading in the right direction? Do we have a common purpose? How are we connected in our humanity? Related values and character strengths: Presence, Balance, Integration, Humanity, Freedom
- The Community Commitments serve as the primary agreements we make with each other as members of the Valor community. These agreements serve as our moral code and are held up as a means for every community member to support each other in being the best that they can be.
- 1. I commit to keeping myself and others safe This commitment embodies our deep belief that learning and growth can only happen when we feel safe. As members of the Valor community, we expect everyone to commit to being physically and emotionally safe, to living lives of integrity, to being thoughtful with regard to our actions and their impact on others, and to being actively protective of our own and others’ well being.
- 2. I commit to leaving no community member behind This commitment embodies our belief in the South African principle of Ubuntu – that our individual well being and success is connected to the well being and success of the community as a whole. This commitment means being compassionate, being conscientious, and being connected to a vision and purpose that is larger than our own. 3. I commit to seeking diversity of perspective This commitment represents our fundamental belief in and commitment to diversity. This commitment asks us to be curious, to be open-minded, to be flexible in our thinking, to be inclusive, and to be multi-storied in our self- and other- understanding.
- 4. I commit to speaking to the person, not about the person This commitment represents our belief in the power of transparency and protects us, as a community, against the poison of gossip. The commitment reminds us to be direct, to be conscientious, to be prudent, to be supportive, and to be courageous in our communications. 5. I commit to speaking from my heart, but using my head This commitment embodies our core belief that everything can be done with kindness and reminds us that while it is important to access and express our thoughts, feelings, and needs, that the most effective and wise way to do this is in a manner that will ensure that our communication can be heard and understood.
- 6. I commit to working the Compass This commitment embodies our belief in working hard, in practicing, and in striving for excellence. It also reminds us to stay in balance and to attend to all of the dimensions of our growth.
- 7. I commit to walking my talk This commitment represents our belief in trust as a foundational aspect of a strong community and calls us to be honest and trustworthy, to live with integrity, and to ensure that our actions and their impact align with our intentions.
- 8. I commit to showing up with Valor This commitment embodies our belief that it takes great courage to grow and reminds us to take risks daily, to be vulnerable, to bring an open heart into all situations, and to live out our purpose.